Brilliant Bouquets
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Weddings Fall/Winter 2010
By Rebecca Rowland and Melissa Colgan
Just thinking about wedding flowers—lilies, peonies, dahlias, oh my!—can make even the most resolute of brides-to-be as flighty as a bumble bee. And for good reason! Flowers are a timeless way to add a customized touch to your wedding day. With the wealth of options, however, it’s difficult to know where to start.
The blooms you choose for your bridal bouquet speak volumes about your individual style, and they should complement your dress, venue, season, level of formality, and time of day of your nuptials.
This ultimate bridal accessory should do more than just suit your outfit. “The most personalized weddings are the ones in which brides give us input on the types, styles, and colors of flowers they relate to, whether it be a favorite bloom or a flower significant to the couple or a cherished relative,” says Russell Toscano of Wisteria Design Studio.
Flowers are exquisite on their own, but consider asking your florist to weave in finishing touches to add even more meaningful accents. “Incorporate a piece of fabric from your mother’s wedding gown or work in a brooch or necklace from a beloved grandmother,” suggests Jackie Just of Just Bloomed. With their careful compositions and surprising juxtapositions, these bouquet arrangements evoke creativity, craftsmanship, and marvelous personality.
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This sun-washed gathering boasts lovely texture, with its dramatic combination of chartreuse, buttery yellow, creamy white, and pale blue. But what we really love are the elegant stems wrapped in silk ribbon, Swarovski crystals, and fresh-cultured pearls.
Bouquet of blue hydrangeas; cymbidium orchids; snowball viburnum; cream, yellow, and green roses; freesia; yellow coxcomb, and blue muscari, by Indulge & Bloom, 3054 Excelsior Blvd., Mpls., 612-343-0000, indulgeandbloom.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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For a look that's classy yet fun, opt for a tight, monochromatic grouping of flowers.
Bouquet of peonies, ranunculus, dahlias, calla lilies, and roses, by Just Bloomed, 5255 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., 612-600-9033, just-bloomed.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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This festoon of flowers is an artistic variation on popular bridal colors—white, blush, and pink. The subtle palette and combination of non-traditional blooms is undeniably feminine.
Bouquet of flowering kale, ranunculus, and feathery astilbe, by Flora Bella, 681 17th Ave. NE, Studio 115, Mpls., 612-964-3802, florabellastudio.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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This all-white cascade fashioned from white and ivory flowers is suitable for any bride, in any season.
Bouquet of cymbidium orchids, ranunculus, freesia, peonies, hydrangeas, and variegated ivy, by Bachman’s, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-861-7620, bachmans.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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With such a dynamic mix of lively color—bright pinks and orange against dramatic green leaves—you’d never know this bouquet has just two blooms.
Bouquet of Phalaenopsis orchids, pincushion protea, Fatsia japonica leaves, and bear grass, by Wisteria Design Studio, 275 Market Place, Ste. 50, Mpls., 612-332-0633, wisteriadesign.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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People often associate pink with the “princess” type of bride, but the color needn’t be so affected. When mixed with deep greens, the look is modern and unexpected.
Bouquet of kale, green trick, South American hydrangeas, peonies, ranunculus, dahlia buds, mini calla lilies, and roses, by Just Bloomed, 5255 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., 612-600-9033, just-bloomed.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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This gathering of orange blooms proves that monochromatic can be dynamic. The uncommon combination of green tulip pods, iridescent coxcomb, fizzy foxtails, and deeper-toned Asclepias adds texture.
Bouquet also includes orange dahlias, Parrot tulips, scabiosa pods, Mango calla lilies, ranunculus, and New Zealand ferns, by Wisteria Design Studio, 275 Market Place,
Ste. 50, Mpls., 612-332-0633, wisteriadesign.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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Looking for a way to do pink for a fall or winter wedding? Use bold crimson roses and lush greens to add depth to cheery pinks.
Bouquet of Hot Lady deep pink roses, pink azalea blossoms, Majolica light pink spray roses, pink lisianthus, and spring green viburnum, by Bachman’s, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.,
612-861-7620, bachmans.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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If your tastes run minimalist and modern, a gathering of one type of flower in a single color is lively without being over-the-top. Chrysanthemums not your thing? Other large-scale bridal favorites include peonies, dahlias, hydrangeas, and garden roses.
Bouquet of white football mums, by Just Bloomed, 5255 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., 612-600-9033, just-bloomed.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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Set against a creamy gown, this fiery yet cheerful mix of persimmon, crimson, and sunny yellow is perfect for a summer or early fall affair.
Bouquet of yellow calla lilies, orange milva roses, cymbidium orchids, pincushion protea, and
dracena leaves accented by Swarovski crystals, by Indulge & Bloom, 3054 Excelsior Blvd., Mpls., 612-343-0000, indulgeandbloom.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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This mix of bright, juicy colors creates visual depth. Inspired by seasonal fruits—tangerines, melons, and berries—this bouquet is vivid, eclectic, and lush in texture and form.
Bouquet of peonies, ranunculus, Vanda orchids, and Gloriosa lilies, by Flora Bella, 681 17th Ave. NE, Studio 115, Mpls., 612-964-3802, florabellastudio.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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Editor’s Tip: If you want your bouquet to stand out in photos, ask for an arrangement of brightly colored blooms in a single color. For a quieter look that complements your dress, ask for flowers in a palette of ivory, blush, and ecru.
Bouquet of Amelia roses and peonies, by Bachman’s, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.,
612-861-7620, bachmans.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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Editor’s Tip: Your bouquet is the star—use it to determine blooms for your bridesmaids, as well as the men’s boutonnieres. Simply make a few shifts in size, shape, or color.
Boutonniere of scabiosa pod, ranunculus, Asclepias, foxtail grass, and New Zealand fern, by Wisteria Design Studio, 275 Market Place, Ste. 50, Mpls., 612-332-0633, wisteriadesign.com
Photo by Michael Hendrickson
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